Every action or event has a corresponding reaction. Generally, that’s what fulfills the waiver wire. Those actions or events create an opportunity for another player to emerge. Oftentimes, this emergence doesn’t come out of nowhere, as it comes down to the availability of minutes.
For the Atlanta Hawks, trading Trae Young was more addition by subtraction. However, we also can’t let that discount what they added by acquiring CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. While Young has yet to play for Washington, the players the Wizards traded for him opened up a void in their lineup.
As we dig into the fantasy basketball waiver wire for the upcoming week, let’s take a look at some options to improve your team.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire
Bilal Coulibaly, F, Washington Wizards.
In his third career season, the age-21 forward appears to be poised to take the next steps in his development. Overall, he’s averaging 10.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in what’s been a solid season. However, we can likely divide it into pre- and post-ankle injury.
The trade of McCollum and Kispert for Young now changes things again for Coulibaly. It will likely come in phases, though, as Young has yet to make his debut with the Wizards. Prior to the trade, Coulibaly was already starting to find his groove. Now, with increased playing time, the forward can take things to the next level. And then when Young does make his debut, that will only serve to elevate the supporting cast. That includes Coulibaly.
Since returning from injury, Coulibaly has averaged 28 minutes per game over 10 games. He’s averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while scoring in double figures in eight of those games. This is precisely the ascending we want to target on the fantasy basketball waiver wire. We also can’t forget Coulibaly’s 15 steals over the past 14 days, which is fourth in the league.
Jake LaRavia, F, Los Angeles Lakers
You are forgiven if Jake LaRavia flies under the radar when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers. Based on how he’s been playing as of late, though, that’s simply not fair to LaRavia.
This isn’t the same Lakers team that we’ve become accustomed to. After all, LaRavia is averaging 36 minutes per game over his last six games. And all he’s done over that stretch is produce.
LaRavia is averaging 15 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but it goes beyond that. The forward is also showing that he can be useful across other categories. He’s averaging two steals per game in that stretch while also making 2.5 three-pointers per game. That production is generally what drives us to the fantasy basketball waiver wire. However, the workload can’t be ignored.
Isaiah Stewart, C, Detroit Pistons
While he was sidelined on Saturday, it was just an illness for Isaiah Stewart. That’s good news as both Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris are currently sidelined due to injury.
If you are looking for help from a category perspective, Stewart certainly checks the box. The center is averaging a career high 2.1 points per game, and he also covers us from a positional scarcity perspective.
Stewart isn’t going to score 31 points per game as he did in his last time on the court, but he’s averaging a solid 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. With a 53.9% field goal percentage and 70.6% rate from the free-throw line, Stewart is a source of solid production.
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